Starter bar for continous metal casting apparatus



F. GALLUCCI `Iune l0, 1969 STARTER BAR FOR CONTINUOUS METAL CASTINGAPPARATUS l Filed Feb. 14, 1967 Sheet of 3 U/ C U Ru OA MG WS Nm ...N AR F M ma ATTORNEY F. GALLUCCI June l0, 1969 STARTER BAR FOR CONTINUOUSMETAL CASTING APPARATUS sheet 3 'Filed Feb. 14, 196'? INVENTOR www"FRANCIS GALLUCCI ATTORNEY June l0, 1969 F. GALLuccl 3,448,789

STARTER BAR FOR CONTINUOUS METAL CASTING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 14, 1967sheet 5 of 3 FRANCIS GLLUCCI SYM ATTORNEY United States Patent O3,448,789 STARTER BAR FOR CONTINUOUS METAL CASTING APPARATUS FrancisGallucci, North Huntington Township, Westmoreland County, Pa., assignorto United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb.14, 1967, Ser. No. 616,103 Int. Cl. B22d 11/08, 27/04 U.S. Cl. 164-27410 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A starter bar for a continuousmetal casting apparatus. The starter lbar has a detachable chill platewhich abuts the lower end of a casting and is secured' to the casting bypins which become embedded in the casting during solidification. Theslide plate positioned within the starter bar to releasably engage thepins on the chill plate is actuated by a plunger rod passing verticallythrough the starter bar. Actuation of the plunger rod is accomplished bythe traveling basket carrying the starter =bar away from the casting.

This invention relates to a starter bar for continuous metal castingapparatus and more particularly to detachable starter bars forcontinuous steel casting apparatus.

In the continuous casting of steel, molten steel is teemed into theupper end of an open-ended tubular water-cooled continuous casting moldwhich is closed olf at the lower end by means of a starter bar. Thestarter bar allows solidification of the steel to begin in the mold withthe formation of a thin solid metal shell around the mold walls andalong the upper surface of the starter bar while a core of metal in thecenter of the mold remains in the molten state. The starter bargenerally has means on its upper surface for forming an interlockinggrip with this solidified shell. When the height of molten metal in themold reaches a predetermined level, the starter bar and the attachedpartially solidified casting are lowered under the control of motordriven pinch rolls located at a substantial distance below the mold. Asthe casting decends below the mold, it is further cooled, andsolidication continues to take place.

According to one mode of operation, solidification of the casting isstill incomplete at the time when the casting passes through the pinchrolls. The advantage of this mode of operation is that a smaller heightof casting apparatus is required than would be necessary ifsolidilication were completed before the casting descends to the pinchrolls.

After the starter bar descends below the pinch rolls, the starter fbaris disconnected from the casting and is lowered on a verticallytraveling basket which travels faster than the casting. The casting maythen be deflected in a lateral direction.

Because the casting has a liquid core that passes through the pinchrolls, it is necessary to separate the starter :bar from the casting insome way that does not require sawing or other rupturing of the casting.One way in which the starter bar and the casting can be separated is toprovide a detachable chill plate on the top surface of the starter lbarand a means for detaching the chill plate from the starter bar when thecasting reaches the pinch rolls. The starter bar may then be loweredvertically on the aforesaid traveling basket, while the chill plate and'the attached casting are deilected laterally.

Heretofore, detachment of the chill plate in the casting from thestarter bar has Ibeen accomplished by means "ice of a striker elementlocated exteriorly of the starter bar at an elevation wheredisconnection of the starter bar from the casting is desired. Thisstriker element has been used to strike a movable release element withinthe starter bar head to cause t-he starter bar to [be released from thechill plate and attached casting. The striker element in this apparatushas been set into motion lb-y la sensing mechanism which determines whenthe starter -bar has reached the predetermined elevation for(disconnection of the chill plate.

Although the aforesaid apparatus is capable of disconnecting the starterbar from the chill plate and attached casting swithout severing thecasting, it has the disadvantage of requiring a relatively complexsystem for accomplishing its objective.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a starter barhaving a detachable chill plate and a simple mechanical means fordetaching the chill plate from the starter bar when the predeterminedelevation for disconnection is reached.

It is another object of the invention to detach a starter bar from achill plate in a continuously moving casting without mechanicalseverance of the casting.

It is another object of the invention to detach a starter bar from achill plate embedded in a continuously moving casting upon actuation ofa plunger rod therein by a traveling basket below the starter Ibar.

These and other objects will be apparent from the specication whichfollows.

According to the present invention, a novel starter bar is provided foruse in continuous metal casting apparatus having pinch rolls forcontrolling the rate of descent of the casting and a verticallytraveling basket for removing the starter bar after it has beendisconnected from the casting. This novel starter bar comprises a chillplate, a slide plate located within a hollow portion of the head of thestarter 'bar for releasably securing the chill plate and the starter bartogether, and 'a plunger connected to the slide plate through a pivotlinkage and extending through a bore in the starter bar to a point belowthe lower end of the starter bar. As the starter bar descends, thisplunger -will strike the aforesaid traveling basket and be movedupwardly, releasing the chill plate from the starter .bar by moving theslide plate to` a position in rwhich such release takes place.

This invetnion will now :be described in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a starter bar according to thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the starter bar head showing in detail themeans for securing the starter bar and chill plate together;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view with parts shown in section taken alongline 3 3 of FIG. 2, showing a portion of the side plate which securesthe starter bar and chill plate together;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a chill plate of this invention, with partsbroken away;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view, taken along line 5 5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a continuous casting apparatus in whichthe starter bar of the present invention may be used.

Referring to FIGS. l and 2, starter b'ar 10 has an elongated metal bodyportion 11 `formed of interlocked sections 1`1a, 11b and having alongitudinal rectangular opening 12 extending Ialong the central axisthereof, and a head 13 at the upper end of the starter bar. The sectionsmay be locked together, for example, by intertting tongues and groovesand conventional locking means. The head 13 has a hollow interior recess14 within which a slide plate 15 is positioned to slide laterally. Theslide plate 15 is supported, for example, by means of antifrietionrollers 16 (FIG. 2) which are conveniently journalled in the starterhead 13 and has a plurality of keyhole slots 17 passing verticallytherethrough (see FIG. 3). Each slot 17 has a round portion and anelongated portion of narrower width than the .diameter of the roundportion. A plurality of pins 18 extend through the slots 17 and throughthe top 19 of the starter bar head 13 and terminate in heads 20 whichform an interlocking grip with the solidilied casting as the latterfreezes. The pins 18 each include a main body portion 21 of a diametergreater than the elongated portion of a slot 17 and slightly smallerthan the round portion of the slot, and a neck portion 22 within thebody portion 21 which is of smaller diameter than the width of theelongated portion of the slot. The pins 18 are secured to a chill plate23 which rests on the upper end of starter bar 10. In one position ofthe slide plate 15, the main body portion 21 of pins 18 yabut the slideplate at the elongated portions of slot 17 with the neck portions 22within the elongated portions so that the pins 18 prevent detachment ofthe chill plate 23 from the starter bar 10. When the slide plate 15 ismoved to the other of its positions, the main body portions 21 of pins18 are in alignment with the round portions of the slots 17 to slidetherethrough and thereby permit detachment of the starter bar from thechill plate.

An elongated plunger rod 24 which terminates at its lower end in aplunger 25 (FIG. 1) is vertically disposed in the opening 12 of thestarter bar in reciprocal relation. A plurality of bronze bushings 26 isprovided in the bore 12 to slidably guide the plunger rod 24 and a well27 is formed at the lower end of the starter bar 10 to receive plunger25. The plunger 25 is dimensioned with respect to the lower end ofstarter bar and well 27 to extend below the starter bar when in itslowermost position.

The slide plate is connected to plunger 4rod 24 by means of a pivotlinkage which has a link 28 pivotally secured to the plunger rod 24 atone end and pivotally secured at an ear 29 secured to the underside ofthe slide plate 15 at the other end.

The slide plate 15 is shown in FIG. 2 in the position permitting releaseof the starter bar 10` from the chill plate 23. The dotted line positionof link 28 and of ear 29 indicates the positions of these members whenthe slide plate 15 is in locking engagement with pins 18. The weight ofplunger rod 24 acting through link 28 tends to move the slide plate 15towards the dotted line pinlocking position.

A spring pressed latch 30 is pivotally mounted in recess 14 forpreventing inadvertent moving of the slide plate 15 toward thepin-locking position not only during assembly of the starter bar 10 butalso after the slide plate 15 has been moved to the pin unlockingposition during descent of the starter bar.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the chill plate 23 has at least Aoneupstanding cylindrical splash shield 31 having a plurality of holes 34in the side walls which is adapted to receive molten steel therein so asto protect the pins, 18 from splashing steel when pouring is initiatedinto the shield 31. In addition, the chill plate 23 also has a pluralityof openings 32 to receive pins 18 in a locking relation which isfacilitated by cut-out tanks around the openings.

Referring to FIG. 6, in operation, prior to the start of the casting,the starter -bar head 13 is attached to the starter bar body 11 by meansof bolts 33 (FIG. 2). The starter bar 10 is then moved upwardly so thatthe top 19 of the starter bar is in the lower portion of the openendedcontinuous casting mold 35. lThe chill plate 23 is next placed on top ofthe starter bar head 13, and the pins 18 are then put in place whileslide plate 15 is retained Iby latch 30 in the pin unlocking position.The last pin 18a to be put in place contacts the latch 30 and forces thelatch 30 to move downwardly so that it is out of contact with theabutment 36. This permits slide plate 15 to be moved by the weight ofthe plunger rod under gravity to the pin-locking position. The starterbar is then ready for a casting.

Molten metal is then teemed from a vessel 37 into the upper end of mold35 and cooling is initiated. After a thin shell of solid metal hasformed the casting descends in a path as shown by dotted lines andindicated as numeral 38. The casting is then guided by guide rollers 39and simultaneously cooled as it descends. Pinch rolls 40 located at aconsiderable distance below mold 35 control the rate of descent of thecasting. Initially these pinch rolls, which are motor driven, engage thestarter bar 10, and after the starter bar 10` descends below the pinchrolls 40, these pinch rolls directly engage the casting.

After the starter bar 10 descends below pinch rolls 40, it continues itsvertical descent until the plunger 25 contacts a traveling basket 41 inits path which initially is in the uppermost position shown in dottedlines in FIG. 6. As the starter bar 10 and attached casting furtherdescend, the traveling basket 41 remains stationary and the plunger 25and plunger rod 24 are pushed upwardly to cause movement of the slideplate 15 toward the pin unlocking position shown in solid lines in FIG.2. This aligns the round portions of slot 17 with pins 18, so that thestarter bar 10 can move vertically away from the chill plate 23 and theattached casting. The traveling basket 41 is then caused to descend in avertical path at a speed greater than the casting speed which may beaccomplished by means known in the art in order to move the starter barfrom the detached chill plate. The traveling basket conveys the starterbar 10 downwardly to a predetermined location at the lower end of travelof basket 41 (shown in solid lines in FIG. 6), where the starter bar maybe lowered to a horizontal position and stowed as is well known in theart. Meanwhile, after the casting and chill plate 23 have beendisconnected from the starter bar 10, they are deected into a curvedpath. A curved guide roll rack 42 located below pinch rolls 40 may beused to guide the casting in this curved path. Rack 42 is shown in aretracted position in FIG. 6 which allows the starter bar to travelvertically.

The above operation is repeated after a casting operation has beencompleted and a subsequent casting operation is to be initiated.

The starter bar of this invention is a novel and simple structure whichpermits disconnection of the starter bar from the chill plate andattached casting by simple mechanical means, not requiring the use ofany apparatus elements not ordinarily found in continuous castingapparatus. The complex starter bar disconnecting mechanism previouslyreferred to! are dispensed with according to lthe teachings of thisinvention.

Having thus described the invention, it is not intended that it be solimited as changes may be readily made therein without dep'arting lfromthe scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the subjectmatter described above and shown in the drawings be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having now described my invention, l claim:

1. A starter bar for a continuous metal casting apparatus, said starterbar comprising an elongated metal body having a longitudinal openingextending therethrough, '-a chill plate, release means for releasablysecuring said chill plate to one end of said body, a longitudinallymovable plunger rod in said opening connected to said release means foractuating said release means and having an end extending exteriorly ofsaid starter bar whereby said end of said plunger rod is adapted toengage an accelerating member located exteriorly of said starter bar tomove said plunger longitudinally to actuate said release means torelease said chill plate from said starter bar when said starter barreaches a predetermined elevation in its descent.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said release means includes ahorizontally movable slide plate.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in Which said release means furtherincludes pins attached to said chill plate for gripping a casting duringsolidification, said pins including neck portions, said slide plateincluding keyhole slots for enveloping said neck portions to preventdisconnection of said starter bar from said chill plate until thepredetermined elevation is reached.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which a pivotal linkage connectssaid plunger rod to said slide plate whereby said slide plate is movablebetween a pin locking position and a pin unlocking position.

5. Apparatus as set (forth in claim -3 in which a latch is pivotallymounted in said end of said metal body to releasably lock said slideplate in a pin unlocking position, said latch being pivotally movableupon attachment of a predetermined pin in said chill plate to permitvmovement of said slide plate into a pin locking position with,

respect to said pins.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said chill plate includesat least one upstanding splash shield thereon for receiving molten metaltherein, said splash shield having a plurality of openings in thesidewalls thereof for passage of molten metal therethrough.

7. In la continuous casting apparatus including a tubular mold in whicha casting is formed, pinch rolls below said mold for moving the rformedcasting in a vertical path at a controlled rate of descent, and atraveling basket below said pinch rolls for movement in a vertical path;the improvement comprising a starter bar having an enlongated metal bodyhaving a longitudinal opening extending therethrough, a chill platedetachably secured to the upper end of said starter bar, release meansfor detachably securing said chill plate and said starter bar together,`la longitudinally movable plunger rod in said opening connected to saidrelease means and having an end extending ex-teriorly of the lower endof said starter bar for engaging said traveling basket at apredetermined elevation in the path of descent of said starter bar, saidtraveling basket moving said plunger upwardly upon enga-gement tothereby release said chill plate from said starter bar. l

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which 'a rack is positionedabove said traveling basket to guide a casting and attached chill plateout of the path of travel of s'aid traveling basket.

9. Apparatus as set lforth in claim 7 in 'which said release meansincludes a slide plate journalled in said body and connected to saidplunger rod for horizontal movement relative thereto upon verticalmovement of said plunger rod, said slide plate having a plurality offslots therein, and a plurality of pins attached to said chill plate,each pin having a neck portion received in a respective slot of saidslide plate to detachably lock said chill plate to said slide plate.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which said chill plate includesat least one upstanding splash shield for receiving molten metaltherein, said splash shield having a Iplurality of openings in the sidewalls thereof for passage of molten me-tal therethrough.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,338,297 8/ 1967 Foldessy164-274 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,319,964 10/ 1962 France.

929,478 6/ 1963 Great Britain. 945,970 1/ 1964 Great Britain. 982,981 2/1965 Great Britain.

I. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.

R. SPENCER AN NEAlR, Assistant Examiner.

